The Bull Terrier Club Committee are pleased to announce the following Judges have all accepted their invitations to Judge at the Trophy Show taking place at: The Royal Court Hotel, Tamworth Road, Keresley, Coventry, CV7 8JG on Sunday 23rd February 2014.

TEIRWYGWYN MISS INDEPENDENT OF MEILOW

VETSBULLIES HAPPINESS

Dog Reserve: BUSELLS RED KNIGHT RISING

Bitch Reserve: PADHEN PEARLS PRINCESS

JUDGES AND POTENTIAL JUDGES – Please submit your up to date CV to the Hon. Secretary by post (25 Avenel Road, Allerton, Bradford Bd15 7HH) or email (elaine3138@yahoo.com) before the end of October if you wish to be considered by the Committee for inclusion on the 2015 Judges List.

This show was dedicated to Tom Horner in what would have been his 100th year. The rather lovely rosettes were specially made and donated by his daughter Kate who was present along with Ferelith Somerfield. It just remains for me to thank the Bull Terrier Club for this invitation, and every single exhibitor who entered under me.

Puppy Dog Entries 3 Absentees 21st UNIONBUL’S DARK KNIGHT RISES (MR P FARRON)
Immature 11 months brindle white, long head which needs muzzle fill, good eye, can use his ears, was rather overwhelmed and panicked about being gripped to show his mouth but good mouth. Moved OK. Does need training

Novice Dog Entries 3 Absentees 11st BRIDEN BACKCHAT (MR & MRS B & D SMALLEY)
White 16 months, beautifully presented and has good head with lovely eye and neat erect ears. mouth fault but enough width under jaw. Good bone and feet, short back and good bend of stifle. Moved better coming.2nd RIGHTSTUFF REFLECT A BULL (MR & MRS C & J WRIGHT)
14 months white well presented but having a giddy day so movement hard to assess. Pink nose at moment, and has kind eye, but enough head fill, good mouth and length of neck, with more muscle tone and body condition will improve.

Open Dog Entries 9 Absentees 01st HENTARW WELSH WARRIOR FROM PENPYCH (MR & MRS M & J GRIFFITHS)
5 year old black brindle tremendously masculine male in excellent condition with not an ounce of flab. Has good strong, filled head with depth and breadth throughout. very minor mouth fault. Super eye with mischievous glint. Erect ears, good length of neck to correct lay of shoulder. Straight front, and good feet Good deep brisket and spring of rib, well muscled hind quarters with well developed thigh. Keeps topline on move. One of the better movers fore and aft although flagging slightly in the challengeDCC2nd CH PADHEN HITMAN (MR & MRS I & L MCDERMID)
Black brindle & white in immaculate condition and shown to perfection. He is very smart, very good profile and neat erect ears bang on top. Correct mouth. Good eye. Long neck to straight front. Good depth of brisket, spring of rib, short back and strong quarters with good bend of stifle. Moves better coming than going. RDCC3rd SON OF LEGENDS (MR & MRS & MR C & P & D WANNOP & CROSSAN)
Res GORBAIN HELLBOY (MR & MRS R & K WOODWARD)
VHC TEIRWGWYN BILLY BOY (MRS & MISS AJ & N ROBERTS)

Puppy Bitch Entries 2 Absentees 01st UNIONBUL’S FALLEN ANGEL (MISS I N STRATTON)
White 11 months old, dainty feminine bitch with enough of everything. Tiny eye, good mouth, neat erect ears, short back and beautifully trained. Has very short length of tail but is set on correctly so does not detract. Moved decently both ways.2nd CWMDULAIS HENTARW BLACK DAHLIA (MISS S WILLIAMS)
Tricolour completely different to 1st, has tremendous profile, would prefer more under jaw, good mouth and very good eye. Another one having giddy day so movement almost impossible to assess. Good bone.

Novice Bitch Entries 5 Absentees 11st ROMAGNA DREAM QUEEN (MRS & MRS Y A & F MORGANS & WILSON)
17 months, beautifully marked brindle and white. Ultra feminine. Looks a picture standing, just the right amount of condition. Has good profile, with enough fill and depth and under jaw. Good mouth. Lovely eye and expression. Good ear carriage. Lovely neck flowing to straight front, good spring of rib, and good quarters with bend of stifle. Moved decently both ways.2nd BRIDENS SUMMER BREEZE (MR & MRS B & D SMALLEY)
White with black eye patches 16mths old. Another feminine girl with adequate bone for her make and shape, she has small eye and neat ears. A little straight in stifle when standing at ease, and better coming than going.3rd BULLBRAND BONNIE NOT CLYDE (MR T CARRICK)Res BULLYVIEW JUBILATED AT FLETCICON (MR J FLETCHER)

Graduate Bitch Entries 4 Absentees 11st JESSAJACK SWEET SENSATION (MRS P TITTENSOIR)
15 months brindle and white. Another really strongly made girl who does not lose her femininity. Have to feel her head which has width through and depth. Good wide under jaw, so good mouth. Triangular eye, and good ear set. Straight front and excellent spring of rib. Her excellent quarters and bend of stifle topped by neat feet. One of the better movers to day fore and aft.2nd WENGORMICK GRACE VILLSONNY (MRS & MS & MR W & K & S WHITTAKER & FERNANDEZ-CANO)
21/2 white unlucky to be in same class as the 1st as she can move as well. Totally different type, elegant, feminine, compact with short back and everything in proportion from her profile to tail set.3rd BULLBRAND GAMBINO’S GIRL (MR T CARRICK)

Limit Bitch Entries 10 Absentees 11st VETSBULLIES HAPPINESS (DRS O A & L C GALLA)
Red and white 2 years old shown in perfect condition, beautifully trained. Lovely head with profile has to be felt but depth and breadth and width of under jaw. Good mouth. Lovely arched neck and straight front with good bone. Spring of rib and deep brisket, very shapely quarters with good bend of stifle (she does tend to stand with hind legs stretched back making her look longer in back than she is). Whip tail that was actually trimmed. Moved better coming than going.2nd HEAVEN WHITE HIMAYLAYA’S SNOW MOUNTAIN (MR & MRS P & A BLAIR)
15 months old white substantial bitch presented in gleaming condition. Has excellent head with fill and depth and under jaw. Super eye and ear carriage, good mouth. Very good bone, straight front, and well defined bend of stifle. Another good tail set. Moved better coming than going.3rd JOINT VENTURE WITH RIGHTSTUFF (MR & MRS & MR C & J & J WRIGHT & SKELTON) Res DIKRAM BLACK MAGIC AT RABRAM (MR & MS R & J LEGGATT & PILKINGTON) VHC WARHORSE DEATH OR GLORY (MR T REDMOND)

You may be aware that Kidney disease has affected the Bull Terrier Breed for many years; I have personally seen references in breed literature dating back more than 50 years. Most breeders, should they breed for any length of time, may expect to encounter it at some point, as it has been known to affect individual stud dogs that have been used extensively and which form corner stones of the current Bull Terrier gene pool.
For some time UP/C testing has been a recommendation for Kennel Club Assured Breeders of Bull Terriers and is considered good practice by many responsible breeders as it may indicate a likelihood of susceptibility to the condition. Many consider kidney disease as the most distressing of the hereditary diseases thought to affect the breed as is it fatal and causes pain and suffering not just to the dogs but to owners too who see a much loved dog fading before their eyes.
However, as useful as the UP/C test may be it is not conclusive and is only able to indicate the likelihood in some cases, and will certainly not identify animals that are either clear or carriers of the condition.
Some time ago, thanks to the generosity of Terry Heath (Holloville) and a number of supporters, funds have been lodged with the Animal Health Trust to develop a DNA test for the condition, A successful DNA test will not only identify those animals that are affected but should also identify animals that are clear as well as those which are carriers.
To develop a DNA test the AHT need DNA samples from animals that have been robustly diagnosed as being affected by kidney disease. Of particular interest are samples from young affected dogs as these are most likely to be suffering from an inherited form of the disease, as opposed to age related kidney disease, which may be genetically different.
Dr Cathryn Mellersh, who is leading the project at the AHT, has confirmed that they may need samples from as few as 50 affected Bull Terriers to develop a DNA test. To date they have received just four samples from affected dogs which have succumbed to the condition, although the clinical information for two of these is very limited.
I am therefore writing to you to ask if you could publish and make your membership aware of the need for samples to be provided to the AHT as a matter of urgency. The samples should be taken in the form of cheek swabs, however if blood is being drawn for diagnostic reasons then a little extra can be taken by your vet and sent to the AHT (suspended in EDTA) for research purposes. The samples of particular interest are from dogs with a very high UP/C which suggest a chronic kidney problem. Diagnosis of renal nephropathy is only really definitive at necropsy, and once a problem has been recognised the kidneys can lose their functionality within a very short period, therefore owners should request a swab sampling kit from Bryan Mclaughlin at the AHT as soon as the condition is suspected. His telephone and e-mail contacts are as follows: 01638 751000 extension 1280, bryan.mclaughlin@aht.org.uk.
Kidney disease is a distressing condition, and I feel certain that you would not wish to miss this opportunity to eliminate it from the breed.